Police: MS-13 member arrested with 'large knife' outside Albert Einstein High School

by ABC7/Kevin Lewis

Martinez-Alvarez is charged with having a dangerous weapon on school property. (Photo: Montgomery County police)

KENSINGTON, Md. (ABC7) — An observant administrator at Albert Einstein High School spotted an armed MS-13 gang member trespassing on school property, Montgomery County Police say.

In mid-October, a female student told school staff members that her ex-boyfriend had broken into her apartment, assaulted her and then followed her to the high school, which is located within a residential neighborhood along Newport Mill Road in Kensington. The girl told staffers her ex's name was Jose Martinez-Alvarez, that he's a member of MS-13 and lives in Prince George's County.

On Monday, October 30 - some two weeks later - a school leader spotted Martinez-Alvarez standing on a soccer field, which is shared by Einstein High School and Newport Mill Middle School. It was around 11:15 a.m. The school resource officer approached and detained the 24-year-old. While searching through his book bag, the officer allegedly located a "large black folding knife with knuckle grips."

According to court documents, Martinez-Alvarez was born in El Salvador, but has lived in the U.S. for at least three years. The 24-year-old told court staff he works as an electrician's assistant and rents a home along the 4800 block of Russell Avenue in Hyattsville.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could neither confirm or deny if Martinez-Alvarez is in the country legally.

Martinez-Alvarez is charged with having a dangerous weapon on school property. His next court date is scheduled for January 4 at 8 a.m. in Montgomery County District Court. He faces up to three years in prison.